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Energy Change Impact

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The WSL Research Program “Energy Change Impact” supports decision-making related to the implementation of the Swiss Energy Strategy 2050 with research-based information and scenarios. The Program collaborates with partners from environmental and energy research, and is in regular contact with policy-makers.

 
 
 

Objectives

WSL will collaborate with partners from research and practice to capitalize on its interdisciplinary expertise and to develop methods and tools to:

  • identify suitable sites and quantify the natural resources available for renewable energy production, such as wind turbines, photo-voltaic systems or wood biomass, and assess their potential;
  • model the future availability of natural resources, e.g. changes in run-off regimes that could impact hydropower production;
  • improve and optimize the processes responsible for the provision of natural resources, e.g. to ensure biodiversity conservation despite intensified timber production.

The energy transition entails risks and potential conflicts to do with nature and landscape conservation, and climate and water protection. Here WSL research can assist in:

  • identifying the environmental risks and conflicts that could be triggered by changing resource use, and possible ways to address them;
  • detecting the landscape risks related to energy production and transport, while minimizing any resulting conflicts;
  • developing a suitable socio-economic and legal framework to support the intensified use of renewable energy sources.

Added Value

When planning the energy transition, sound information about the environmental and landscape risks entailed and the societal acceptance of new energy systems is needed to identify potential areas of conflicts. These can then be addressed or even prevented, which will normally shorten the implementation time required and the total cost of the new energy system.

 

Further information